THIS WEEK

Happy July 4th | Conference office closed 
    In observance of  the 4th of July, the Dakotas Conference office is closed.

Bishop's 2024 Advent Study | The Christmas Letters
    Bishop Lanette Plambeck will lead a virtual Advent study, on Tuesday evenings, November 26 through December. In The Christmas Letters, Magrey deVega invites you to hear about the miracle of Christ’s birth from those who first told the story. Read more.

COMING UP

North Central Jurisdiction Conference | July 10-13
    The 2024 North Central Jurisdictional Conference will be held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, July 10-13, 2024. Gathering around the theme "Lift Every Voice," participants will explore ways to live humbly, love genuinely, have a sense of presence and joy amid affliction, and be united with our siblings in Christ. View details. Watch NCJ live.

Mission U | July 12-14, July 18-20
    Mission u is a transformative educational event open to women, men, members and non-members of UWFaith and/or the UMC, the event encompasses both Bible-based curriculum and spiritually uplifting and mission-related components. The Southern Site will meet Friday, July 12, to Sunday, July 14 on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University and the Northern Site gathers Thursday, July 18 to Saturday, July 20 at the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, N.D. Register here. View the study book.

Fresh Expressions coaching call | July 25 6:30 p.m.
    Join this coaching session for Fresh Expressions practitioners and their teams. Participants will learn from each other as they process the loving first journey together. Participants will share stories, ideas and get support from others. Michael Beck will facilitate these calls. Learn more. 

Impact Fargo: Taking God Seriously | July 28-Aug. 2
    Youth from across Dakotas are invited to a mission event in Fargo, N.D. IMPACT Fargo 2024: Taking God Seriously, is happening July 28-Aug. 2, 2024. Get the details.

Breakthrough Ministry Grants | Due July 31
    Breakthrough Ministry Grants: Grants are offered to churches and related organizations from the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation and Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Grants will be awarded quarterly as seed money to launch new ministries or expand an existing ministry. Learn more about Breakthrough Ministry Grants.

Investing In Leaders Resource Grant (Student Debt Reduction) | Apply by Aug 1 
    The 2024 application is open until August 1, 2024. First-time applicants are considered first. Demonstration of completing personal financial education and working with a financial loan repayment counselor (at least one session) are both required. If you need more information about connecting with a student loan repayment counselor, please get in touch with Area Director of Clergy Well-Being Diane Owen at diane.owen@dkmnareaumc.org. Learn more.

Virtual Mission u | Aug. 8-10
    Virtual Mission u runs on Thursday, August 8, 2024, Friday, August 9, 2024 , from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Central Time, and Saturday, August 10, 2024, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Get the details and register.

Dakotas-Minnesota UM Clergy Women's Retreat | Aug. 11-13
    Join clergywomen from across the Dakotas-Minnesota Area at Lake Poinsett for a retreat. The topic and theme is Lyrical Faith: Discovering God in the Music of Peter Mayer. View the details.

EarthKeepers training | Apply by Aug. 14
    Global Ministries EarthKeepers is a training and incubator program that provides a collaborative space for United Methodists to develop and grow environmental projects in their communities. Topics include eco-theology, antiracism, community organizing, and project planning. All participants plan a project during the training. The following EarthKeepers training events will be held Oct. 3-6, 2024. Applications are Due by August 14, 2024.

Required Quadrennial Clergy Training: Becoming Whole and Holy Leaders | Aug 26-27
    Registration with general information is now available here for appointed clergy and assigned laity serving in pastoral roles in the Dakotas Annual Conference who will be attending BEcoming Whole and Holy Leaders —How our healthy boundaries and ethics move us to wholeness and holiness! This is a required quadrennial gathering in Pierre, S.D., on August 26-27, 2024.

Financial Leadership for Churches | Fall 2024
    Consider the Financial Leadership for Churches program Garrett Evangelical Seminary offers for pastors and church leaders, which will be offered online this fall. The cost is $450 (covering all participants).  Information can be found here. Should a church have difficulty paying the fee, financial ministry grants are available to provide matching funds (for this program $225 with the church providing $225). Contact Diane Owen, Area Director of Clergy Well-being, at diane.owen@dkmnareaumc.org.

Leadership Institute 2024 | Sept. 25-27
    Remember the incredible energy of last year's Leadership Institute? Want to find out what everyone's talking about? Experience the spirit of connection and growth at this year's conference, September 25-27, 2024. Registration is now open. Get the details.

RESOURCES

Flood relief supplies urgently needed
    Record levels of flooding led to basements, houses, and businesses being filled with water, causing thousands of people to evacuate. Midwest Mission, one of seven cooperating depots in the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) relief supply network, is sending disaster relief supplies to Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota to assist with cleanup efforts. Learn more.

Facebook's new streaming policy
    On June 10, two new livestream policies were set by Facebook that will affect new and smaller churches. Let's discuss what you need to do.  Read more.

100 Days of Prayer | Week 14, Be humble and united
    This is the fourteenth week of the Dakotas-Minnesota Area 100 Days of Prayer initiative. In a world full of differences and division let us take to live out these words from Romans 12: 16, “Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status.”  How can you live each day humble and united with your neighbors? Access week fourteen resources.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS | View all Ads

Jobs Available
    We're hiring! Take a look at the job announcements across the Dakotas Conference. Get the details on jobs available at these Conference churches and organizations.

Worship and Technology Director | Watertown First UMC
    First UMC in Watertown, South Dakota has an opening for a full-time Worship and Technology Director. Access a job description here. Questions and inquiries can be directed to Rev. Sara McManus at seniorpastor@watertownfirst.church.

Accompanist | Ben Clare UMC
    Ben Clare UMC near Valley Springs, S.D., is looking for a musical accompaniment for 9 a.m. traditional service and special services. The music includes, but is not limited to, hymns, prelude and postlude, offertory, and special music. If interested, please send your resume to Pastor Krista Ducker. Get more details.